Truck body construction



Aug. 20, 1935. P. BALL 2,011,965

' TRUCK BODY CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l llllllllIl 'v k.) u

INVENTOR filkeri P5aZZ.

IATTORNEYSJ Aug. 20, 1935. A v 2,@1l,965

TRUCK BODY CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 6, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1Q gill-INVENTOR f7Zbc rZf Z? ,Bdl Z.

ATTORN EY A. P. BALL 2,011,965

TRUCK BODY CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 6, 1950 THIN j aINVENTOR Y Aug. 20, 1935. BALL 2,011,965

TRUCK BODY CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 6, 1930 4Sheets'-Sheet 4 INVENTORfiZbrZ J? 456. 52.

ATTORNEYS- Patented AugrZD, 1935 was v 2,011,965 7 I TRUCK BODYCONSTRUCTION Albert P. Ball; Detroit, Mich, assignor to BriggsManufacturing Company Detrcit, Mich., a corporation of MichiganApplication October 6, 1930, Serial No. 486,826

This invention relates generally to truck body constructions and refersmore particularly to an improved construction of storage I compartmentfor truck bodies. I 1

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a truckbody with a storage corn partment having side walls mounted upon thebody in such a manner as to'permit the same to be swung to open positionfor loading purposes or to be readily detached from the truck plat--form in the event it is desired to eliminate the side "walls or tosubstitute walls of a different character I Another advantageous featureof this invention is attributed to the novel and expedient manner inwhich the dimension'of the storage compartwith this invention;

'ment may be varied. The construction is such that in the event it isdesired to increase the height of the storage compartment; sections ofthe desired widths are merely'attached to the side walls of thecompartment to form extensions therefor.

A further object of this invention resides'in the means employed fordetachably and hingedly "connecting the side walls of the storagecompartment to the truck platform.

; With theforegoing as well as other objects in View, the inventionresides in the peculiar construction of the truck body illustrated andabout tobe'described,

In the drawings:

1 Figure 1 is a side elevational view'of a truck equipped with a bodyconstructed in accordance Figure Z'is a fragmentary side 'elevationalview illustrating the relatively simple manner in which the length ofthe body may be varied;

Figure 3 is a side elevational View of one of the bodysections; H

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3; l

; Figure 5 is a. sectional viewtaken on the line:

55 of Figure 3; v

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of the body constructionillustrating the manner'in which the height of the body may be varied byadding side wallsections; t

Figure i is a detail elevational View of one of the sidewall supportingsections;

Figure SJisla diagrammatic plan view of the I construction shown inFigure 1; I

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line-99 ofFigure 1;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of a slightly modified formof body construc- Figure 11 is a sectional View taken substan tially onthe line H -.l lofFigure 1 01;.

Figure 12 is a sectional -l2-il2 of Figure 10;

view taken on the line Figure 13 is a view similar to'Flgure'lllshowingstill another modified form of construction;

' V Figure 14 is a sectional View taken on theplane indicated by theline I l-44 of Figure 13; taken onthe line Figure '15 is asectional viewl5--l5 of Figure 13;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of another modified form ofbodycon'structiohj Fig'ure'l'? is a view similar to Figure 16showingstill another modified form of body construction;v

Figure 18 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a latch mechanism;and

Figure 19 is a sectional view taken on the use Generallydescribed, thereis n med in Figwe 1 a truck 28 comprising'a chassis 2:! having a motorcompartment 22 and a drivers'compartment 23 supported thereon adjacentthe forward end thereof. Supported upon the chassis frameflZl in rear ofthe drivers vcompartment-23 is a platform 24 forming the floor for thestorage compartment 25. The storage compartment 25 is provided withfront,'side and rear walls 26, 27' and 28, respectively, which extendupwardly from the platform 24 and are supported on the latter bymean'soithe stanchions or stakes 29. The opposite side walls 21 of thestorage compartment are preferably formed of a plurality of sections,

herein shown as two, 31] and'3l. The sections and 3| are detachablyconnected to the stan;'- chions 29 in such a manner as to permitany-number of sections to be secured together to form difv ferentlengths of bodies depending upon the chassis construction. '7 1 Indetail, opposite ends of each side wall section .is provided with.laterally extending aligned tubular projections 32. The tubularprojection on each section being spaced longitudinally'of the ends ofthe section a sufficient distance to receive th'erebetween the tubularprojections on the next adjacent section as clearly shown in Fig,- ures1 and 2. When the tubular projections 32 I of adjacent sections areinassembled'relation,

they cooperate to form an axially extending open ing of sufiicientdiameter to slidably receive" the stakes 28; .Thus, it will be seen thatthe stakes 29, in addition to supportingthe sidewalls of v the storagecompartment from the platform 24 of the truck, also serve to detachablyconnect the side wall sections to eachother. The'lower ends. I

of thestakes .29 are detachably received'in"suit able stake pocketsformed on the platform 24.

The above construction is such as to permit the side, walllsections tobe readily detached from the stakes 29 toIperniitthe substitution ofside v wallsvcfdifferent construction or if it isrdesired to eliminatethe sidewalls. entirely, the'stakes section 26 may be provided withsuitable open-..

28 of the storage compartmentv are secured to the stakes 29 in the'samemanner as the side wall sections and as shown in Figure 3, the frontwall wall section upon each stanchion in the samemanner as hereinbeforedescribed. In detail, the stanchions '29 are provided at the lower endsthereof with reduced circular portions 34 adapted to slidably engagewithin the stake receivin ipockets formed onthe platform and areprovided at the upper ends with tubular socket portions havingan-interior diameter suificient to slidably receive the reduced endportions 34. Thus, it will ;be. seen that the reduced end portions 34 ofthe stanchions are not only adapted to engage within the stake-receivingpockets on the platform, but are also engageable within the socketportion .of other stanchions to form extensionstherefor.

As shown particularly in Figure 7, when the reduced end portion34 of onestanchion istelescopically engaged within the tubular u perend ofanother stanchion, the shoulder 35 formed by the reduced portion 34 ofthe upper stanchion seats upon the upper end of the lowermoststanchionzforming, in efieca. a single upright mernber of the combinedlength of both stanchicns.

.With the above construction, it will be observed. that the :side wallsof thestorage compartment may be readily increased tov substantially anydesired height by merely adding sections, and this may be accomplishedwithoutdetaching or otherwise interfering with the side wall sectionspreviously assembled on the truck. r l

The foregoing construction, in addition to providing simple andeificient means for increasing the height of the storage compartment,also renders it possible to provide a readily detachable top for thestorage compartment. .Referring again to Figures 6 and 7, it willbenoted that in the. event it is desired to provide a top for the storagecompartment a plurality of rods 3'! are provided having upwardly bowedportions extending transversely of the storage compartment andterminating at'the ends in depending projections 38 adapted totelescopically engage'within the tubular socket portions of theuppermoststanchions. Suitable top covering 39 may then be extendedacross the rods 3l'and suitably secured in place; 5

Referring now to the modifiedform'of construction illustrated in Figures10 to. 12, inclusive, it is to be noted that this. constructionfdiffersfrom the one previously described in that the sections 45cooperatingwith each other to form the side Walls of the storagecompartment are connected to the stanchions 4! in such a manner as.

topermit the same to be individually-swung to open position. IndetaiLeach of the stanchions 4l are provided with oppositely extendinghinge parts 42 and 43 independently rotatably mounted a 29 may also bereadily removed from the platform. The front and rear wall sections 25and and thereby. permit the sections to swing about the opposite endsthereof. The particular connection illustrated in Figures 1c to 12,inclusive, comprises a projection 44 extending laterally from the fourcorners of each wall section and adapted to project through suitableslots formed in the hinge parts 42 and 43. As shown in Figure 12, eachof. the projections 44 are provided with openings therein for receivingpins 45 which serve 7 tended by merely adding additional sections.

The body construction illustrated in Figures 13 to 15, inclusive,differs from either of the foregoing described types in that thesidewalls 45 of the storage compartment are preferably continuous ratherthan formed in sections. As will be observedfrom the above figures, theside walls 45 are in the form of a sheet metal stamping having brackets4'! secured thereto at longitudinally spaced intervals 'for slidablyreceivirg the stanchions 48 extending upwardly from the truck platform45 1 V i In Figure 16, I have illustrated another modified form of bodyconstruction wherein each of the side wall sections areindependentlyhingedly connected to the side sills 55 of :the platform 5|so as to permit the sections to be individually swung downwardly for thepurpose of facilitating loading and unloading of the truck. In detail,each of the side wall sections; 52 areprovided with downwardly extendingprojections 53 adjacent opposite ends thereof and adapted to be received in suitable upwardly opening pockets 54 struck out from plates 55which are-secured to the outer sides of the sills 5i in any'suitablemanner. The pockets 54 are preferably cut away as indicated at 55 toreceive the reduced portion 51 of the projections 53 .whenthe' sections52 are swung to their open position. Each-of the plates 55 are alsoformed with .a thirdpocket 58 intermediate the pockets 54 for detachablyreceiving the stakes. or stanchions 55. .The upper ends of the sections52 are provided with brackets 50 having laterally extending 'arcuateprojections. 55 adapted to engage the stanchions 59 to prevent inwardmovement of the sections 52. ing with the arcuate extensions 6! andassociated with each section 52 for'normally maintaining the sections inassembled position upon the platform is. a suitable latching device 52comprising a pair of 1evers'63 having their inner ends pivotallyconnected as at54 to an operating handle 55 in such a manner thatrotation of the handle in one direction causes the levers 53 to movetoward each other and rotation of the handle in an opposite directionaffects movement of the levers away from each other. The outer endportions of the levers 83 are guided by the brackets 69:. and areadapted, when in the position shown in Figure 16, to extend behind thestanchions 59 to prevent outward movementv of the sections 52. T econstruction is such that the sections 52 may be swung to inoperative position by merely manipulating the handle 55 to disengage the outer endsof the levers tfi from the stanchions 59. Moreover, since theprojecstanchion l l.

'latter out of the keeper 33.

conveniently manipulated by means of an options 57 on each of thesections 52 merely rest within the pockets the sections 52 may bereadily detached from the truckwhenever-desired.

In Figure 17, I have shown a modified form of detachable hingeconnection between the sections and stanchions. As shown in this figure,the'adjacent ends of a pair of sections Eat-and iii are provided withlaterally extending projectionsififi at the top and bottom edges thereofadapted to extend throughysuitable openings formed in a pair of hingeparts 69 and 'ifl-mo-untedforrotation independent .of each. other uponthe The projections 58 are normally maintained in assembled relationwith the hinge parts 69 and it by means of suitable sliding bolts itcarried by the hinge parts. The upper ends of the bolts l2 terminate indownwardly extending projections i3 adapted'to engage in suitableopenings formed in the projection 88, while the "lower ends of the boltsit are adapted to'engage in similar openings formed in the lowermostpro-- jectionsiih, Each of the bolts 12 are provided with laterallyextending handle portions i i which may be conveniently grasped tomanipulate the bolts. The construction is such that movement of thebolts upwardly causes the samejto disengage from the projections 68 andpermit the. adjacent edgesof the sections t6 and. iii to be detachedfrom the hinge parts Eiland it and thereby permit the same to be pivotedabout their tion, the latter may be entirely: removed from the truck andsince thestanchions H are preferably mounted within stake-receivingpockets upon the truck platform, as stated in connection with, theconstruction illustrated in Figure 16, the stanchions and hinge partsmay also be readily removed from the truck platform In this connectionit is to be noted that the stanchions ii may be identical inconstruction to the stanchions I 29, hereinbefore described, if desired,with the result that the width of the side walls of the storagecompartment shown in Figure 17 may be extended by adding the desirednumber of sec tions. I

In Figures 18 and' l9,I have illustrated a modified form of latchmechanism for retaining the side wall sections 89 in assembled relationwith the stanchions 8i. The latch mechanismcomprises a longitudinallyslidable bolt 82 carried by the side wall section 8! and adapted toehgage within a keeper 83 formed by striking a portion of the tubularstanchion 8i inwardly as clearly shown in Figure 19. The bolt 82 isnormally held in engagement with the keeper 83 by "means of a suitablespring 3 having one end anchored to the side Wall section 8% and theopposite end secured to the bolt, For moving the bolt out of latchingposition, I provide a vertically slidable cam member 85 carried by thewall section 86 and having a cam surface 86 adapted to engage anoutwardly projecting shoulder 371' formed on the end "of the bolt formoving the erating handle 88 secured to the "cam 85. What I claim as myinventionis:

l. A truck body .having a platform, an up- The cam may be right member,anchored in the platform, a wall section extending upwardly from theplatform and swingingly mounted on said upright member, said uprightmember having a socket portion atthet'upper end thereof for detachablyreceiving a second upright member substantially the same in construction[as the member aforesaid, and a second wall section swingingly mountedon the second upright member. I

2, A truck'having a platform, an upright member mounted on the platform,a wall section havingspaced looped portions receiving said uprightmember and supported thereby, a second upright member detachablyengageable with the upright member aforesaid forming an extensiontherefor, and a second wall section substantiallythe same inconstruction as the first mentioned wall section arranged in verticalalignment therewith and supported by said second upright member.

3.'A truck having a platform, a wall formed of 'a plurality of sectionsextending upwardly from the platform and having spaced looped portions,a plurality of stanchions extending upwardly from the platform betweenthe adjacent edges of -the, sections and engageable in the -looped Iportions thereof,- a second series of stanchions telescopically anddetachably engaging the stanchions aforesaid, and other wall sectionshaving spaced looped. portions engaging said last mentioned stanchionsto form a continuation of the first mentioned wall sections.

i. A truck having a platform, a wall formed of a plurality of sectionsextending upwardly from the platform and having spaced loopededge'portions, stanchions detachably mounted upon the V platformandextending upwardly therefrom between adjacent edges of the sectionsand engag- I ing in said looped edge portions, said stanchions eachhaving a socket portion at theupper end thereof, other stanchionsdetachably mounted in the socket portions of the first mentionedstanchions to form extensions therefor, and wall sections having spacedlooped edge portions engaging the second mentioned stanchions invertical juxtaposition jtothe first mentioned wall sections. I f I l 5.A truck body having a platform, an upright 'member anchored in theplatform, a ,wall section extending upwardly from the platform andswingingly mounted on saidupright member, said upright member having asocket portion at the upper end thereof for detachably receiving asecond upright member substantially the same in construction as themember aforesaid, a second wall section swingingly mounted on the secondupright member, and a top supporting member extending transversely ofthe platform and having a portion adapted to telescopically engage inthe socket of either said first or said second upright member.- I r 6. Atruck having a platform, a stanchion receiving pocket in'said platform,a tubular stanchion having a reduced portion at one end engageable insaid pocket, a socket in the opposite end of said stanchion equal insize to said stanlchion receiving pocket, other stanchions interchangeable with and adapted to form extensions for said first mentionedstanchion, and atop sup porting member extending transversely of theyplatform and having a portion adapted to tele- I scopically engage inthe socket of any one of said

